Nick Johnson poses with UA coach Sean Miller (right) and assistant Archie Miller after committing to the Wildcats on Wednesday afternoon (Johnson family picture posted on his Facebook page)

Following a game at the Fab 48 tournament last month in Las Vegas, a local reporter asked Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep guard Nick Johnson about where UNLV factors into his recruitment.

Johnson did his best impression of a politician dancing the line on a hot topic and went with, “Well, I wouldn’t say I’ve ruled them out. They’re still recruiting me. I still hear from them every now and again. …”

Johnson then looked my way knowing that I covered UA athletics — it was only me and the Las Vegas Sun reporter talking to him — and he said, “I mean, I’m not sure right now. If I get one (program) that I feel like it will be best for me, I might commit right there. But who knows?”

He then smiled. Turns out he got this urge and committed right there — to Arizona on Wednesday. Now I understand the subliminal message he was sending. Johnson and his mother Michelle surprised the UA coaching staff with an impromptu appearance at McKale Center to announce his intentions.

The most significant aspect of Johnson’s commitment in terms of the program’s image: Arizona has not skipped a beat from Lute Olson to Sean Miller when it comes to recruiting top-notch in-state talent. Any chance ASU coach Herb Sendek thought he might get with top in-state players because of Olson’s retirement is not apparent.

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Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill point guard Quinn Cook gets his teammates involved and plays under control (WildcatSportsReport.com photo/Brad Allis)

My observations of the following point guard prospects were in bits and pieces, moving from one venue to the next, during a five-day stretch in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago.

The Arizona coaching staff has a couple of years, much more communication and a heck of a lot more scouting time put in for the Class of 2011. Take my observations for what their worth, although how can you argue with my opinion that Nick Johnson is the best Class of 2011 prospect Sean Miller and Co. can land?

Signing Johnson goes beyond acquiring an explosive athlete on the perimeter who can play either guard position. He can evolve into a leader at Arizona the same way popular players such as Luke Walton and Richard Jefferson became the backbone of the Wildcats. Johnson can legitimately become the face of the program by the time he is a junior.

A lot has been written and discussed about Miller’s No. 1 recruiting priority for 2011. In my opinion, Johnson, 6-2, from Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep by way of Gilbert, should be 1-A and all the others can slip to the B category. Also well-chronicled is the idea of Johnson and good friend Jahii Carson of Mesa attending the same university, thereby giving the UA a good chance of having both.

Miller and his staff likely want to sign an assertive, scoring point guard such as Carson to complement Johnson. Other top-notch Class of 2011 point guard prospects showing interest in the Wildcats include Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill’s Quinn Cook and Sacramento’s Josiah Turner (who teamed with Johnson over the summer with the Drew Gooden Soldiers).

The chances of landing either Cook or Turner are more remote than acquiring Carson (a prized in-state target), but Cook and Turner have shown interest nonetheless.

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Class of 2011 point guard prospect Quinn Cook says Arizona is one of his nine finalists

Read more information about the Fab 48 and adidas Super 64 tournaments at WildcatSportsReport.com

LAS VEGAS — At the request of Quinn Cook, Class of 2011 Arizona commit Sidiki Johnson is playing on Cook’s D.C. Assault AAU team here this weekend at the adidas Super 64 tournament.

Johnson has a request for Cook: Play at Arizona. But it’s only a half-hearted request from one future Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy player to another.

“Sidiki understands I have to make my own decision but he throws some jokes out there about making me going to Arizona some times,” said Cook, who recently won a gold medal with the Team USA Under-17 team in Germany at the World Championships.

Johnson and Cook talked often on the court and occasionally shared a laugh in their first game Thursday. Cook wants to visit Arizona unofficially in August but said he is not sure if it will happen.

Johnson’s addition to D.C. Assault — he normally plays with the Metro Hawks out of the Bronx in New York — was set up by Cook to help them adjust together on the court before they report to Oak Hill on Aug. 10.

“It’s good to establish that chemistry early,” Cook said. “Oak Hill will have a lot of new guys. We’re going to be senior leaders on the team. We played together at Pangos (last month). I am a little familiar with him but now a lot more familiar with him.”

Cook said he has narrowed his list to seven East coast and two West coast teams: Arizona, UCLA, Villanova, Duke, Wake Forest, North Carolina State, West Virginia, St. John’s and Georgetown. He has not decided which five schools he will officially visit starting in September.